Cold weather equestrian riding glove with exposable fingers

ABSTRACT

Embodiments described herein relate to a glove to assist an equestrian rider in holding a rein. The glove includes a central fingers portion and at least one first fastening device positioned on an outer surface of a back of hand portion. A central fingers portion has a central fingers flap hingedly attached to the outer surface of the back of hand portion. The central fingers flap includes a cavity and is selectively moved between an open position where at least a portion of a rider&#39;s central fingers are exposed and a closed position where the rider&#39;s central fingers are covered. The central fingers flap includes at least one second fastening device positioned on an outer surface. In the open position, the second fastening device is releasably coupled to the first fastening device to maintain the open position and the cavity is configured as a pocket to hold a hand-warming device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility patent application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/723,011, filed on Aug. 27, 2018, theentire contents of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification generally relates to gloves and, moreparticularly, to equestrian riding gloves that assist in gripping reinsand provides an option to use fingertips in horse related activities.

BACKGROUND

Equestrian riding is a popular sport and past time recreational activityof horseback riding. As a rider, one of the most important features iscontrolling a horse by the reins. As such, gripping the reins in theproper position is essential to maintain effective control andcommunication over the horse. Further, being able to feel the reins isalso important for certain movements and general communication betweenthe rider and the horse. Riders must guide the horse through a multitudeof maneuvers by slight movements of the rider's body and hands. Ridersalso rely on the feel of the reins and the hand positioning to controlthe horse, and they must be prepared to ride the horse in all weatherconditions.

Riders generally wear gloves to protect their hands, and specificallytheir palms, when gripping the reins. Riders also wear gloves in coldweather areas to help keep their hands warm. The gloves are typicallyconstructed with heavier weight materials due to the likelihood of earlywear caused by the reins as well as to keep the rider's hands warm.Therefore, these gloves typically do not permit the rider tosimultaneously feel the reins similar to a bare hand or fingers whileprotecting the rider's palm and keeping the rider's hand warm. Also, byinhibiting direct contact between the rider's fingers, the reins, thehorse, and/or other stable related equipment (e.g., clean tools), thegloves limit the rider's “feel” for the task at hand. Further, in coldweather areas, gloves may be used for other aspects of equestrian ridingand care. For example, it is easier for a rider to saddle a horse,attach buckles, or the like, when a rider maintains the ability todirectly contact the relevant work surface with his or her fingers. Thatis, due to the fine attachment of the buckles to saddle the horse, one'sfingertips of all four fingers may be needed. In other examples, only athumb tip or pinky fingertip may be necessary to complete a task. Inanother example, horses must be groomed to help maintain health andgrooming generally involves washing the horse, brushing the horse, andthe like. As such, all four fingertips may be required to complete thegrooming. In other examples, only a thumb tip or pinky fingertip may benecessary to complete the grooming.

Accordingly, there is a need for a glove that protects the rider's palmand fingers, while allowing the rider to feel the reins, the horse,and/or other horse and stable related equipment (e.g., buckles of thesaddle, clean tools, and the like) with bare fingers while also keepingthe user's hand warm.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a glove to assist a user in holding a rein isprovided. The glove includes a body and a central fingers portion. Thebody includes a hand entry portion, a finger portion opposite of thehand entry portion, a palm portion positioned between the hand entryportion and the opposite finger portion, and a back of hand portionpositioned opposite the palm portion. The back of the hand portionfurther includes at least one first fastening device positioned on anouter surface of the back of hand portion. The central fingers portionextends from the finger portion. The central fingers portion has acentral fingers flap hingedly attached to the outer surface of the backof the hand portion of the body. The central fingers flap includes acavity. The central fingers flap is selectively moved between an openposition where at least a portion of a user's central fingers areexposed and a closed position where the user's central fingers arecovered within the cavity. The central fingers flap includes at leastone second fastening device positioned on an outer surface of thecentral fingers flap. In the open position, the second fastening deviceis releasably coupled to the first fastening device to maintain the openposition and the cavity is configured as a pocket to hold a hand-warmingdevice.

In another embodiment, a glove for a rider of a horse to hold a rein isprovided. The glove includes a body and a central fingers portion. Thebody has an inner layer and an outer layer. The body includes a handentry portion, a finger portion opposite of the hand entry portion, apalm portion positioned between the hand entry portion and the oppositefinger portion, and a back of the hand portion positioned opposite thepalm portion. The back of the hand includes a pocket positioned betweenthe inner layer and the outer layer of the body, and at least one firstfastening device positioned on the outer layer and at the back of thehand portion. The central fingers portion extends from the fingerportion. The central fingers portion has a central fingers flap hingedlyattached to the outer layer at the back of the hand portion of the body.The central fingers flap is selectively moved between an open positionwhere at least a portion of a central fingers of the rider is exposedand a closed position where the central fingers of the rider arecovered. The central fingers flap includes at least one second fasteningdevice positioned on an outer surface of the central fingers flap. Inthe open position, the second fastening device is releasably coupled tothe first fastening device to maintain the open position and the pocketis configured to hold a hand-warming device.

These and additional features provided by the embodiments describedherein will be more fully understood in view of the following detaileddescription, in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplaryin nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by theclaims. The following detailed description of the illustrativeembodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a top plan view of a glove according to one or moreembodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 2 depicts a bottom plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 according toone or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 3 depicts a side plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 according to oneor more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 4 depicts a side plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 according to oneor more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 5 depicts a front plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 with the fingersbent downward according to one or more embodiments shown and describedherein;

FIG. 6 depicts a rear plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 of the hand entryend according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 7 depicts a bottom plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 in the form ofan open-ended finger glove according to one or more embodiments shownand described herein; and

FIG. 8 depicts a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 in the form of anopen-ended finger glove according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 9 depicts a top plan view of a glove according to a secondembodiment shown and described herein;

FIG. 10 schematically depicts a bottom plan view of the glove of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 depicts a bottom plan view of the glove of FIG. 9 in the form ofan open-ended finger glove;

FIG. 12 depicts a top plan view of a glove according to a thirdembodiment shown and described herein;

FIG. 13 depicts a bottom plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 according toone or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 14 depicts a side plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 according toone or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 15 depicts a side plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 according toone or more embodiments shown and described herein;

FIG. 16 depicts a front plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 with thefingers bent downward according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 17 depicts a rear plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 of the handentry end according to one or more embodiments shown and describedherein;

FIG. 18 depicts a bottom plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 in the formof an open-ended finger glove according to one or more embodiments shownand described herein; and

FIG. 19 depicts a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 12 in the form ofan open-ended finger glove according to one or more embodiments shownand described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein are directed to a glove that may includethumb and pinky portions, one or both of which may be oriented relativeto a main body of the glove at an angle well known to horse riders, andalso useful to them for holding reins, performing horse relatedactivities (i.e. saddling the horse, grooming the horse, and the like).The thumb and pinky portions may also include end flaps or caps that maybe removed or pulled out of the way to selectively permit a portion ofthe wearer's thumb and/or pinky to be exposed. The glove may alsofeature index, middle and ring finger portions with open ends that maylikewise be selectively covered, or exposed, by a comparatively largerflap or cap that is attached to a top of the glove. The larger flap maybe configured with a cavity that forms an internal pocket into which awarming device (e.g., a commercially available warming packet) may beinserted and held.

An arrangement of magnets, one positioned on or in the larger flap orcap, and one on or in the top of the glove, may also be provided toassist in selective holding the larger flap or cap in the “pulled back”or out-of-the-way position when the index, middle and ring fingerportions are exposed by the user. The glove may thus be configured suchthat a user can selectively expose, or cover, portions of the wearer'sthumb, and/or portions of the wearer's pinky finger, and/or portions ofthe wearer's index, middle and ring fingers. In addition, the glove mayfeature an internal pocket, disposed between an inner layer and an outerlayer of the glove, into which may be inserted a warming device (e.g., acommercially available warming packet). The glove may be constructedfrom one fabric, or from a combination of fabrics and materials. In oneembodiment, one or more synthetic fabrics may be used so that the glovemay maintain an outward appearance that is sleek and/or streamlinedwhile also being warm and useable by the wearer in a cold environment.

Referring to FIGS. 1-19, a glove 10 will be described that may be usedin connection with equestrian riding, either as a popular sport and/oras a past time recreational activity of horseback riding, and relatedactivities thereto. It should be appreciated that FIGS. 1-8 are directedto a first embodiment, FIGS. 9-11 are directed to a second embodimentand FIGS. 12-19 are directed to a third embodiment. The secondembodiment of FIGS. 9-11 is a mirror image of the first embodiment ofFIGS. 1-8. That is, the first embodiment is directed to a right-handedglove and the second embodiment is directed to a left-handed glove. Assuch, it should be appreciated that the same reference numerals areused. Further, common features of the third embodiment of FIGS. 12-19will use the same reference numbers increased by 100 and the commonfeatures will not be further described for brevity reasons.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-11, the glove 10 has a body 12 comprising apalm portion 14 disposed in between a hand entry end portion 16 and afinger portion 18, a back of the hand portion 20 and an opposing portion21 that opposes the palm portion 14, a back of the hand surface 22 and apalm surface 24. The body 12 further comprises a thumb sleeve 26, apinky finger sleeve 28 and an individual central finger sleeves 30.

In some embodiments, the thumb sleeve 26 extends from the body 12 at anacute angle with respect to an edge of the central finger sleeve 30and/or an edge of the body 12 nearest the thumb sleeve 26. In otherembodiments, based on the flexibility of the user, whether the userflexes their thumb, and the like, the thumb sleeve 26 may be extendableat an obtuse angle with respect to the edge of the central finger sleeve30 and/or an edge of the body 12 nearest the thumb sleeve 26. In someembodiments, the acute angle is between 0 and 90 degrees and preferablymay be between, for example, 55 and 90 degrees. More preferably, forexample, the acute angle that the thumb sleeve 26 extends from the body12 is between 65-85 degrees. Further, the pinky finger sleeve 28 extendsfrom the body 12 at an acute angle with respect to an edge of thecentral finger sleeve 30 and/or an edge of the body 12 nearest the pinkyfinger sleeve 28. In some embodiments, the acute angle is between 0 and90 degrees and preferably may be between, for example, 0-55 degrees.More preferably, for example, the acute angle that the pinky fingersleeve 28 extends from the body 12 is between 20-55 degrees.

The pinky finger sleeve 28 includes a pinky finger inside surface 28 aand a pinky finger rear surface 28 b. Further, the thumb sleeve 26includes a thumb sleeve inside surface 26 a and a thumb sleeve rearsurface 26 b. It should be appreciated that generally the pinky fingerinside surface 28 a and the thumb sleeve inside surface 26 a face thepalm portion 14 while the pinky finger rear surface 28 b and the thumbsleeve rear surface 26 b face the back of the hand portion 20. Theindividual central finger sleeves 30 is provided adjacent to theopposing portion 21 and opposite of the hand entry end portion 16.Further, the glove is constructed with an inner layer 64 and an oppositeouter layer 66. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, it should be appreciatedthat the palm portion 14, hand entry end portion 16, the finger portion18, the back of the hand portion 20 and the opposing portion 21 are allformed with the inner layer 64 and the outer layer 66. Further, itshould be appreciated that the back of the hand surface 22 and the palmsurface 24 are formed on the outer layer 66.

Further, the back of the hand portion 20 includes a first fasteningdevice 29 a such as a magnet(s), hook and loop fasteners, Velcro®,two-sided tape, and/or the like. As shown, additional pairs of fasteningdevices 29 c, 29 d, 20 e, 29 f, such as a magnet(s), hook and loopfasteners, Velcro®, two-sided tape, and/or the like, may also be usedwith the thumb and pinky fingers to selectively retain the requisiteservices in position. The palm portion 14 and the portions that face thepalm portion 14 (i.e. the pinky finger rear surface 28 b and/or thethumb sleeve inside surface 26 a) may include an anti-slip surface suchas a rough texture, a plurality of raised surfaces, and/or the like. Asshown, the anti-slip surface may include a plurality of silicontriangles arranged on the palm portion 14. However, it will beappreciated that other materials, shapes, and patterns, known in the artmay be used in the construction of the anti-slip surface.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4 and 8-11, the glove 10 further includes a centralfingers flap 32, a pinky finger flap 34, and a thumb flap 36. Thecentral fingers flap 32 includes a central fingers hinge portion 38 anda central finger cavity portion 40. Further, an uppermost region of thecentral fingers flap 32 is a continuous curve. It should be appreciatedthat other shapes are envisioned. The central finger cavity portion 40further includes a central fingers inner surface 40 a and a centralfingers outer surface 40 b. The central fingers outer surface 40 bfurther includes a second fastening device 29 b such as magnet(s), hookand loop fasteners, Velcro®, two sided tape, and/or the like thatcompliments and/or corresponds to the first fastening device 29 a.

The central fingers flap 32 is hingedly attached to the back of the handportion 20. As such, the central fingers hinge portion 38 is configuredto hingedly rotate the central fingers flap 32 between a central fingersfirst position 42 and a central fingers second position 44 along asingle axis. The central fingers first position 42 (FIG. 2) is when thecentral fingers flap 32 is covering the individual central fingersleeves 30 and the user's central fingers 70 (FIG. 7), while the centralfingers second position 44 (FIG. 8) is when the central fingers flap 32permits the individual central finger sleeves 30, and at least a portionof the user's central fingers 70 (FIG. 7), to be exposed. That is, thecentral fingers first position 42 of the central fingers flap 32 may bea closed positon whereas the central fingers second position 44 of thecentral fingers flap 32 may be an open position.

As such, in the central fingers first position 42, the central fingersinner surface 40 a of the central finger cavity portion 40 abuts thefinger portion 18 and the central fingers inner surface 40 a overlapsthe palm portion 14. In the central fingers second position 44 thecentral fingers outer surface 40 b of the central finger cavity portion40 abuts the back of the hand portion 20. In some embodiments, thecentral fingers flap 32 is held and/or maintained in the central fingerssecond position 44 by the fastening devices 29 a and 29 b. Likewise, theflaps on the pinky finger and thumb may be held and/or maintained intheir second positions by the fastening devices 29 c and 29 d or 29 eand 29 f respectively, which may include magnets.

The central finger cavity portion 40 of the central fingers flap 32extends a width of the central fingers flap 32 and is provided with adepth suitable for the finger portion 18 to be covered when the centralfingers flap 32 is in the central fingers first position 42. It shouldbe appreciated that the central finger cavity portion 40 of the centralfingers flap 32 is large enough in all dimensions to accommodate for theindividual central finger sleeves 30 without compressing or modifyingthe individual central finger sleeves 30 and for three central fingersof a user to fit inside. It should be appreciated that the centralfingers hinge portion 38 may extend laterally across the opposingportion 21, the back of the hand portion 20, or any portion thereof.Further the central fingers hinge portion 38 may be arcuate and/orcurvilinear and may extend towards the palm portion 14.

The pinky finger flap 34 is hingedly attached to the pinky finger sleeve28 by a pinky finger hinge portion 46. The pinky finger flap 34 furtherincludes a pinky finger cavity portion 48, which has a pinky fingerfirst surface 48 a and a pinky finger second surface 48 b. The pinkyfinger hinge portion 46 is configured to hingedly rotate the pinkyfinger flap 34 between a pinky finger first position 50 and a pinkyfinger second position 52 along a single axis. The pinky finger firstposition 50 (FIG. 2) is when the pinky finger flap 34 is covering thepinky finger sleeve 28, and the user's pinky 72 (FIG. 7), while thepinky finger second position 52 (FIG. 7) is when the pinky finger flap34 permits at least a portion of the pinky finger sleeve 28, and atleast a portion of the user's pinky finger 72 (FIG. 7), to be exposed.That is, the pinky finger first position 50 of the pinky finger flap 34may be a closed positon whereas the pinky finger second position 52 ofthe pinky finger flap 34 may be an open position. As such, in the pinkyfinger first position 50, the pinky finger first surface 48 a of thepinky finger cavity portion 48 abuts the pinky finger sleeve 28 suchthat the pinky finger second surface 48 b overlaps the pinky fingersleeve 28. In the pinky finger second position 52, the pinky fingerfirst surface 48 a may abut the back of hand portion 20 or the pinkyfinger rear surface 28 b of the pinky finger sleeve 28.

The pinky finger cavity portion 48 extends a width of the pinky fingerflap 34 and is provided with a depth suitable at least a portion of thepinky finger sleeve 28 to be covered when the pinky finger flap 34 is inthe pinky finger first position 50. It should be appreciated that thepinky finger cavity portion 48 is large enough in all dimensions toaccommodate for the pinky finger sleeve 28 without compressing ormodifying the pinky finger sleeve 28 and for a pinky finger of the userto fit inside. It should be appreciated that the pinky finger hingeportion 46 may extend laterally across the pinky finger sleeve 28, theopposing portion 21, and/or any portion thereof. Further, the pinkyfinger hinge portion 46 may be arcuate and/or curvilinear and may extendfrom the pinky finger rear surface 28 b towards the pinky finger insidesurface 28 a and/or the palm portion 14.

In some embodiments, the central fingers flap 32, in the central fingersfirst position 42 includes covering the pinky finger sleeve 28. That is,in some embodiments, there is not a pinky finger flap 34 but instead thecentral fingers flap 32 covers both the individual central fingersleeves 30 and the pinky finger sleeve 28.

The thumb flap 36 is hingedly attached to the thumb sleeve 26 by a thumbhinge portion 54. The thumb flap 36 further includes a thumb cavityportion 58, which has a thumb first surface 58 a and a thumb secondsurface 58 b. The thumb hinge portion 56 is configured to hingedlyrotate the thumb flap 36 between a thumb first position 60 and a thumbsecond position 62 along a single axis. The thumb first position 60(FIG. 2) is when the thumb flap 36 is covering the thumb sleeve 26 andthe user's thumb 74 (FIG. 7) while the thumb second position 62 (FIG. 7)is when the thumb flap 36 permits at least a portion of the thumb sleeve26, and a portion of the user's thumb 74 (FIG. 7), to be exposed. Thatis, the thumb first position 60 of the thumb flap 36 may be a closedpositon whereas the thumb second position 62 of the thumb flap 36 may bean open position. As such, in the thumb first position 60, the thumbfirst surface 58 a of the thumb cavity portion 58 abuts the thumb sleeve26 such that the thumb second surface 58 b overlaps the thumb sleeve 26.In the thumb second position 62, the thumb first surface 58 a may abutthe back of hand portion 20 or the thumb sleeve rear surface 26 b of thethumb sleeve 26.

The thumb cavity portion 58 extends a width of the thumb flap 36 and isprovided with a depth suitable at least a portion of the thumb sleeve 26to be covered when the thumb flap 36 is in the thumb first position 60.It should be appreciated that the thumb cavity portion 58 is largeenough in all dimensions to accommodate for the thumb sleeve 26 withoutcompressing or modifying the thumb sleeve 26 and for a thumb of the userto fit inside. It should be appreciated that the thumb hinge portion 54may extend laterally across the thumb sleeve 26, the opposing portion21, the back of the hand portion 20, and/or any portion thereof.Further, the thumb hinge portion 54 may be arcuate and/or curvilinearand may extend from the thumb sleeve rear surface 26 b towards the thumbsleeve inner surface 26 a and/or the palm portion 14.

Referring to FIG. 8, in some embodiments, at least the central fingercavity portion 40 is optionally configured as a pocket. The pocket maybe used as a holder to hold, store, retain and the like, at least onehand-warming device 68. That is, in the central fingers second position44, the central finger cavity portion 40 is configured to hold ahand-warming device 68 within the central finger cavity portion 40. Thehand-warming device 68 may, for example, be selected from a range ofknown heating apparatus including, disposable or single use hand warmersor packets, electrically powered (rechargeable or non-rechargeable)warmers, and the like as is known in the art. As such, it should beappreciated that in the central fingers second position 44, the nowheated central fingers outer surface 40 b abuts or is in contact with atleast the back of hand portion 20.

In embodiments, the glove 10 is a unitary construction. However, it willbe appreciated that the glove 10 may be constructed with removal parts,such as with removably securable caps or flaps.

Now referring to FIGS. 12-19, the third embodiment of the glove 100 isschematically depicted. It should be appreciated that the commonfeatures of the third embodiment will use the same reference numbersincreased by 100 and will not be further described for brevity reasons.In the third embodiment, the glove 100 includes a pocket 176 disposedbetween the inner layer 164 and the outer layer 166 at the back of thehand portion 122. The pocket 176 extends a width of the back of the handportion 122 and is provided with a depth suitable as a holder to hold,store, retain the at least one hand-warming device 168. The pocket 176may be configured such that the hand-warming device 168 may apply a heatto the back of the hand portion 122, which may ultimately heat theuser's hand regardless of the position of the central fingers flap 132.That is, regardless of whether the central fingers flap 132 is in thecentral fingers first position 42 (i.e, the closed position) or thecentral fingers second position 44 (i.e., the open position).

A seal 178 is provided and extends across an upper portion of the pocket176. The seal 178 is configured to be resealable where the seal 178provides or restricts access to the pocket 176. A sealing mechanism 180may be slidably attached to the seal 178 such that when the sealingmechanism 180 is moved in a first lateral direction, the seal 178 may beopened and when the sealing mechanism 180 is moved in a second lateraldirection, the seal 178 may be closed. The seal 178 may be a fabricmaterial, a plastic material, an adhesive, a tape, and the like.Further, the seal 178 may be a zipper structure having zipper elements,a zip seal, and the like. The sealing mechanism 180 may be a zipper, aslider configured to separate or close the seal 178, and the like.

Still referring to FIGS. 12-19, the palm portion 114 and the portionsthat face the palm portion 114 (i.e. the pinky finger rear surface 128 band/or the thumb sleeve inside surface 126 a) may include an anti-slipsurface. The anti-slip surface may be silicon material or other asappreciated by those skilled in the art to have anti-slip properties.The anti-slip surface may be a curvilinear pattern, an arcuate pattern,a linear pattern, and/or the like. However, it will be appreciated thatother materials, shapes, and patterns, known in the art may be used inthe construction of the anti-slip surface.

Further, an uppermost region of the central fingers flap 132 of theglove 100 may include a partial hexagonal shape. In other embodiments,the uppermost region may be an octagonal shape, other polygonal shapes,s square shape, and the like. The hand entry portion 116 of the body maybe tapered and include an elastic stitching 182, a reinforcementstitching, and/or the like on an inner surface 186 to ensure a fitaround the users hand, in particular a wrist of the user. Further, astrap with a locking mechanism 184 may be positioned near the hand entryportion 116 such that the hand entry portion 116 of the glove 100 may betightened around the wrist of the user. Further, reinforcement stitching186 may be added to a rear surface of the hand entry portion 116 tosupport the strap with a locking mechanism 184. It should also beappreciated that the, reinforcement stitching 186 may assist in formingan annular formed hand entry end portion 116. As such, the formed handentry end portion 116 may maintain an annual shape regardless of whetherthe user's hand is inserted into the glove 100.

It should now be understood that the glove described herein isconfigured to optimize a grip of a rein during horse riding and byproviding an option to the rider of using their fingers to touch thereins using their gloved fingers, while still providing heat to therider's hand. Further, the gloves are configured for at least one heatdevice to be added to assist in supplying additional heat to the user'shand.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it should be understood that various other changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimedsubject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not beutilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appendedclaims cover all such changes and modifications that are within thescope of the claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A glove to assist a user in holding a rein, theglove comprising: a body comprising: a hand entry portion, a fingerportion opposite of the hand entry portion, a palm portion positionedbetween the hand entry portion and the opposite finger portion, and aback of the hand portion positioned opposite the palm portion, the backof the hand portion further includes at least one first fastening devicepositioned on an outer surface of the back of the hand portion; acentral fingers portion extends from the finger portion, the centralfingers portion has a central fingers flap hingedly attached to theouter surface of the back of hand portion of the body, the centralfingers flap includes a cavity, the central fingers flap is selectivelymoved between an open position where at least a portion of a user'scentral fingers are exposed and a closed position where the user'scentral fingers are covered within the cavity, the central fingers flapincludes at least one second fastening device positioned on an outersurface of the central fingers flap, wherein in the open position, theat least one second fastening device is releasably coupled to the atleast one first fastening device to maintain the open position and thecavity is configured as a pocket to hold a hand-warming device.
 2. Theglove of claim 1, wherein the at least one first fastening device andthe at least one second fastening device are magnets.
 3. The glove ofclaim 1, wherein the hand-warming device is a disposable hand warmer. 4.The glove of claim 1, further comprising: a thumb portion extending fromthe body at an acute angle with respect to an edge of the body.
 5. Theglove of claim 4, wherein the thumb portion further comprises: a thumbflap hingedly attached to an outer surface of the thumb portion suchthat the thump flap is selectively moved between an open position whereat least a portion of a thumb of the user is exposed and a closedposition where the thumb of the user is covered.
 6. The glove of claim5, wherein the outer surface of the thumb portion and an outside surfaceof the thumb flap each have a fastening device configured to complimentone another such that the thumb flap is held in the open position by thepair of fastening devices.
 7. The glove of claim 6, wherein the pair offastening devices is a pair of magnets.
 8. The glove of claim 4, furthercomprising: a pinky portion extending from the body in a directionopposite the thumb portion and at an acute angle with respect to an edgeof the body.
 9. The glove of claim 8, wherein the acute angle of thethumb portion extending from the body and the acute angle of the pinkyportion extending from the body provide for an optimal grip on the rein.10. The glove of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the centralfingers flap, the palm portion and the pinky portion is textured. 11.The glove of claim 8, wherein the pinky portion further comprises: apinky flap hingedly attached to an outer surface of the pinky portionsuch that the pinky flap is selectively moved between an open positionwhere at least a portion of a pinky finger of the user is exposed and aclosed position where the pinky finger of the user is covered.
 12. Theglove of claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the pinky portion and anoutside surface of the pinky flap each have a fastening deviceconfigured to compliment one another such that the pinky flap is held inthe open position by the pair of fastening devices.
 13. The glove ofclaim 12, wherein the pair of fastening devices is a pair of magnets.14. A glove for a rider of a horse to hold a rein, the glove comprising:a body having an inner layer and an outer layer, the body comprising: ahand entry portion, a finger portion opposite of the hand entry portion,a palm portion positioned between the hand entry portion and theopposite finger portion, and a back of the hand portion positionedopposite the palm portion, the back of the hand portion comprises: apocket positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer of thebody, and at least one first fastening device positioned on the outerlayer and at the back of hand portion; a central fingers portion extendsfrom the finger portion, the central fingers portion has a centralfingers flap hingedly attached to the outer layer at the back of handportion of the body, the central fingers flap is selectively movedbetween an open position where at least a portion of a central fingersof the rider is exposed and a closed position where the central fingersof the rider are covered, the central fingers flap includes at least onesecond fastening device positioned on an outer surface of the centralfingers flap, wherein in the open position, the at least one secondfastening device is releasably coupled to the at least one firstfastening device to maintain the open position and the pocket isconfigured to hold a hand-warming device.
 15. The glove of claim 14,wherein the at least one first fastening device and the at least onesecond fastening device are magnets.
 16. The glove of claim 14, furthercomprising: a thumb portion extending from the body at an acute anglewith respect to an edge of the body; a thumb flap hingedly attached toan outer surface of the thumb portion such that the thump flap isselectively moved between an open position where at least a portion of athumb of the rider is exposed and a closed position where the thumb ofthe rider is covered; and a first pair of fastening mechanisms, one ofthe first pair of fastening mechanisms is positioned on the outersurface of the thumb portion and the other one of the first pair offastening mechanisms is positioned on an outside surface of the thumbflap, the first pair of fastening mechanisms is configured to complimentone another such that the thumb flap is held in the open position by thefirst pair of fastening mechanisms.
 17. The glove of claim 16, whereinthe first pair of fastening mechanisms is a pair of magnets.
 18. Theglove of claim 16, further comprising: a pinky portion extending fromthe body in a direction opposite the thumb portion and at an acute anglewith respect to an edge of the body; a pinky flap hingedly attached toan outer surface of the pinky portion such that the pinky flap isselectively moved between an open position where at least a portion of apinky finger of the rider is exposed and a closed position where thepinky finger of the rider is covered; and a second pair of fasteningmechanisms, one of the second pair of fastening mechanisms is positionedon the outer surface of the pinky portion and the other one of thesecond pair of fastening mechanisms is positioned on an outside surfaceof the pinky flap, the second pair of fastening mechanisms is configuredto compliment one another such that the pinky flap is held in the openposition by the second pair of fastening mechanisms.
 19. The glove ofclaim 18, wherein the second pair of fastening mechanisms is a pair ofmagnets.
 20. The glove of claim 18, wherein: the oblique angle of thethumb portion extending from the body and the acute angle of the pinkyportion extending from the body provide for an optimal grip on the rein;and at least a portion of the central fingers flap, the palm portion andthe pinky portion is textured.